Fountain pen



Jan. s, 1932. H, KRAUSE l 1,840,110

FOUNTAIN PEN Filed July 18, 51930 [//lllll/% jf i1 E Il fa 75 VW @UM/ 1g 15 1y `lil v 3' X '"H. f5' 19 i f8 1'/ y/ 1.9

INVENTOR l ging Yr zal? LZ@- Patented Jan. 5,` 1932 unirse 1 fsfrivrissg PATENT oFF-ica f nanny irniiusii, or LITTLE unex, LONG ISLAND.newy Yoriny Assreiioii 'ro rias.

omi-grou rmlooirrniimiivo., or LONG oriinv YORK i iippicauoa ined Juiy is,

Y 'lhe present invention relates to fountain pens and more particularly to a locking de- I'ice for preventing accidental displacement ofthe partsthereof.

` rPhe present invention is an improvement particularly upon fountaiirpens wherein air pressure is applied to theink sacto deflate it, although it may be used advantageously with other constructions. "Such a construction is illustrated in Patent No. 1,580,093, dated April 6, 1926, wherein the filling devices are operated by drawing a portioiiof the barrel outwardly to increase the ysize of the chamber about the sac closinr the a ierture in the end of the barrel, pushing the barrel into its' initial position to compress the'air within the chamber, thereby deiating the inksac, and thereafter releasing the air pressure by .uncovering the coveied aperturelto permit the sae to inflate itself and draw in a substantial quantity of ink.

Although the construction described abovev is very popular, it is not entirely` satisfacf placed in lthe hands of persons unfiiled withinlg. Such Aaccidental discharges of ink may cause'substantial damage to the clothing of the user or tok other property. There are many persons who are inclined Lto toy #ith some article while talking or thinkj ing. Such persons are likely to expel ink unintentionally and, in some cases, with undesirable consequences.

rllhe present invention aims to eliminate these contingenciesby providing a simple, pensive locking device, quickly operated, for preventing accidental movement of the .filling devices. In this manner, the pen con'- struction is improved substantially without sacrificing any of its other advantages and without increasing materially its cost.

An object of the present invention is to vprovide an improved pen construction, the

parts of which may ybesecurely locked in po-y sition.

Another object of the invention is to pro? ISLAND CITY, NEWl YCELK, A CDRPORATION Y VVMFoUiv'r'AIN Pniv 1930. seriai No. 468,759.

A further object of the invention is to arr` range the sliding members ofthe pen con- .stri'ict-ionv so that thepen barrel remains substantially stationary while Athe filling means are operative, thereby enabling the lockingk means to bea-enclosed kwithin the barrelto avoid' impairing the appearance ofthe pen".v

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious uponr an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to `be described, or will beindicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

VA preferred embodimentof the invention has been chosen for .purposes of illustrationV and description and is shown in theaccom# panying drawings, formiiig a part of the specification, 1 wherein F ig. l is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a fountain pen showing a preferred y embodimentof the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similai' to l, illustrating the slidable members drawn outwardly prior n omitted forciearness;

locking members prior to engagement;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the sliding member locked to the stationaryk members Fig.y is a side elevational view, 'partly in section, illustrating the present invention apj plied to aslightly .different type of pen; and Fig6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspeci tive view, partly in section, showing the lock#r ing members about to be locked.

y l While the preferred embodiment of thefinlr vention is described with reference to a pary tic'ularipeii, many of its features 'may be utilized in other constructions.

Referring again to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4, there is shown`4 a fountain pen construction compris,

. ing a pen section l suitably-threaded at 2 to a hollow barrel member 3; Apenpointd to the lling operation, the ink sac beingrr and a. feeding device 5, for supplying ink to the pen point, are secured within one end of the pen section 1 and an ink sac 6, preferably a collapsible rubber tube member, is secured to the other end of the pen section and extended into the barrel 3. It is desirable that the section 1 be readily detachable from the barrel 3 so that the pen point 4, the feeding device 5 and the inl; sac 6 may be removed to facilitate repairs or replacement of parts thereof if necessary.

A threaded zone 7 is provided at the forward end of the barrel to receive a suitable cover cap to protect the point against breakage and to exclude dust therefrom. Such a cap is usually provided with a cli i or a ring having a ribbon tied thereto, whereby the pen may be carried conveniently when not being used.

To complete the construction of the barrel 3 and to provide means for filling the ink sac, a cup-shaped member 9. preferably conforming to the contour of the barrel at its open end, is mounted upon a tubular member 10 which is adapted to slide into the hollow secv tion of the barrel. The member 9 may be of any suitable length and may be provided with a finger grip 8 to facilitate the manipulation of the tube 10.

' It will be noted that the tube 10, preferably of metal, substantially encases the ink sac 6. A packing section 12 provides a substantial seal between the hollow section of the barrel 3 and the tube 10, and an aperture 14 at the end portion of t-he cup member 9 affords means for air to escape from or enter into the inner portion of the tube 10. The packing 12 may be of any suitable material, such as rubberized compounds, but preferably comprises several turns of linen, cotton or silk thread. The threads may be waxed or treated with an odorless oil to minimize the frictional forces exerted thereon andto improve the seal. Vhen the tube 10 is retracted, as shown in F ig. 2, the air chamber surrounding the ink sac is increased substantially in size. By placing a finger over the aperture 14 and returningl the tube to its first position, a substantial air pressure is created Within the tube whereby the ink sac is deflated. Upon immersing the lower end ofthey pen in ink and removing the linger from the aperture 14, the air within the tube escapes and the ink sac will inflate itself by reason yof its elasticity and fill with ink.

The ease with which the sac may be de- Hated sometimes occasions accidental discharge of ink from the pen. To guard against such contingencies, means for locking the 4tube 10 into the barrel are provided. The

construction about to be described aims to eliminate such contingencies.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the open end of the inner Ybarrel or tube 10 in the preferred embodiment, is provided with one or more projecting members 15, illustrated herein as two, although any convenient number may be used. Preferably, the tube 10 is made of a durable metal such as brass or the like, but other material may be employed. The projections 15 may be formed in any desired manner; for example, small pins ma be brazed or otherwise secured into suita le apertures 16, or, if desired, the tube 10 may be dented to provide similar projections of sufficient length and strength to effect the desired result.

A convenient way to provide locking grooves or slots for co-operating with the projections 15 on the barrel 10 is to insert a tubular member 17 into the bore of the barrel 3 adjacent the pen section. The tube 17 fits snugly in the barrel 3 and may be held in place either by friction or by a suitable cementing materlal. Its inner diameter is slightly larger than the external diameter of the tube 10 to receive the end portion thereof. One or more grooves 19, corresponding in number to the projections 15, are provided in one end of the tube 17, as illustrated. For convenience, the grooves 19 extend completely through the Wall of the tubular member and are substantially L-shaped, the mouth portionsv 18 of the grooves being slightly wider than the lower portions thereof to facilitate entrance of the projections 15. The lower ends of the slots form substantially an elbow which extends circumferentially of the tube. The purpose of this portion of the slot is to prevent any tendency of the projections 15 to back out of the Groove except when manually rotated. The length of the tube 17 is preferably such that it extends slightly above that portion of the pen section extending into the barrel 3 for engagement with the end of the rubber sac. This affords substantial space for the insertion of the end of the tube 10 and, at the same time, does not materially shorten the tube 10 and impair its operating eiliciency. The position of the slots 19 is such that when the cap 9 is in closed position, the projections 15 will be in the lower ends thereof.

YlVhile the grooves 19 are described herein applied to a tube 17, it will be understood that any suitable devices may be utilized for providing means to cto-operate with the projections 15; for example, the grooves 19 might be formed in the barrel 3 of the pen or the tubular member 17 might be integral with the barrel 3. Various other changes in the form of the construction may be made.

In Fig. 5, the present invention is shown applied to a slightly different pen construction. Preferably, thev pen comprises a front section 20 adapted to support a suitable pen point, a feeding device and an ink sac, which are connected to a barrel member 21. The member 21 serves as means for securing a tube 22 thereto, which encases the ink sac.

desired.

The fundamental difference betweenthis construction and the one'previously described is that the inner barrel or tube 22 remains stationaryk and an outer barrel 24, telescoped tiereover, is adapted to bereciprocated to operate the filling mechanism.y A packing portion 25 is positionedwithin asuitably enlarged section at they front end of :thebarrel intermediate the tubef22 and the barrel 24, whereby air pressure may be Lmaintained within the tube to deflate and inflate `the bag encased therein. A suitable aperture 26 is providedV at the end ofthe barrel .which is adapted to be utilized inthe same manner as described with respectto the aperturet14- To achieve the advantages obtained by; locking the tube and barrel together when not being operated to fill kor empty the inl: sac, a pin or bar member-27 is provided, extending radially across the barrel 24 substantially at its end portion. The pin 2T preferablv is made y-of metal and is adapted te be secured to the barrel in any suitable manner, for example, by inserting it through an apertirevin the wallof thepen to rengage ess or aperture oppositely disposed. 'i .e ree end of the tube 22 is provided with slots or grooves 29 adapted to receive the pin 2?. These grooves are substantially similar to grooves 19 illustrated vin the preceding embodiment. The pin 27 is materially strengtlr en-ed by extending itacross the pen barrel,

as illustrated, but a plurality of independent lugs or projections might be utilized if In operation, if the pen is to be filled, the tube 10 is drawn outwardly by slightly rotating it to release the projections 15 from the slots 19 and then retracting it to the position shown in Fig. 2, the cap orbutton 9 serving as means for gripping the tube. The pen point 4 is then placed `into a supply of ink, the aperture 14 is closed by placing a finger thereover, and the tube l0 is pushed inwardly to its initial position, therebycausing thevair in the casing about the ink sac to be compressed. The external pressure on the inlr sac deflates it, expelling any air or inl( therein. By opening the aperture 14 to release the air pressure within tube l0, the ink sac, by reason of itsl elasticity, will iniiate itself to draw in a substantial quantity of ins. The tube 10is then pushed further nwardly and rotated so that the projections i 1o will enter the slots 19, as shown in Fig. 4,

to loclr the parts securely in position to pre-k vent accidental expulsion of ink from the sac.

rIhe pen construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is similarly operated; however, it will be noted that the tube 22 therein is stationary while the outer barrel 24 slidesl thereon to compress the ink sac. The locking'means' v are located at the upper end ofthe barrel and are operated by pushing the barrel 24 inwardly over the tube 22 until the pin 27 aplproaches the slots 29.*and then rotating the barrel to lock the pin within the slots. If the pin 27 'is to be released,fthe barrel is rotated slightly inthe opposite direction and is then drawn outwardly. Y

It will be seen that the present invention provides simple, inexpensive means for lo'ckingthe filling devices of the type of pens shown herein.` The locking means may be positioned so that they remain 'unseen and thereby do` not mar theappearance of the pen. TWhen vthe locking elements are engaged, the parts are held rigidly in position, thereby avoiding yaccidental and unintentional operation` thereof.v

, The construction described herein is sim.- ple and rugged and fully capable of withstanding the rough use to which it may be subjected. i 4 v j As various changes may be made in the form, construction' and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that allmatter herein is to be whereby said tubular member may belo'ckcd againstraccidental displacement.

2. In a fountain pen, thecombination of a barrel having grooves on the inner side thereof, an ink sac within said barrel, a siidabletube intermediate said sac and said barrel adapted to increase the pressure in said barrel andfuponfsaidsac, and means at one endv of said tube for locking thetube to the grooves of said barrel to preventaccidental displacement thereof.

In a fountain pen, the combination of a barrel, an ink sac secured within said vbar-` rel, a slidable tube intermediate .said sac and said barrelviadapted toeifect' Athe filling y of said sac, and a projection at the inner end of ksaid tube adapted to engage a-groove within the other of said barrels having grooves therein adapted to cooperate with said pin, to lock said barrels in position.

5. In a fountain pen, the combination of a barrel, an ink sac Within said barrel, a second barrel telescoped over said first barrel, and devices on said barrels for locking them in closed position, said devices comprising a radially extending member on one of said barrels and the other of said barrels having a groove therein adapted to receive said radi'- ally extending member.

6. In a fountain pen of the class described, the combination of a pair of slidable barrels, one of said barrels telescoped about the other, and means for locking said barrels together, said means comprising a pin extending across the inner tubular portion of one of said barrels and said other barrel having grooves formed therein adapted to engage said pin.

7. In a fountain pen of the class described, the combination 0f a pair of slidable barrels, one of said barrels telescoped about the other, and means for locking said barrels in position, said means comprising a plurality of grooves provided at the end of the inner barrel and radially extending means on the outer barrel for engaging the grooves of the inner barrel.

8. In a. fountain pen, the combination of a non-metallic barrel, a metallic barrel slidably mounted Within said non-metallic barrel, a tubular member mounted in said nonmetallic barrel, and co-operating means on said metal barrel and said tubular member adapted to interlock with each other to hold said barrels in closed position.

9. In a fountain pen, the combination of a barrel forming the pen holder, a second barrel slidably mounted within said first barrel, an ink sac within said barrels, a tubular member mounted in said first barrel, and cooperating means on one of said barrels and said tubularfmember adapted to interlock with each other to hold said barrels in closed position.

10. In a fountain pen, the combination of a barrel provided with slotted portions at the inner end thereof, an ink sac Within said barrel, a tube enclosing said ink sac slidably mounted in said barrel, a cap portion at the end of said tube, said cap portion having an aperture therein whereby the pressure Within said tube acting upon said ink sac may be controlled, and radially extending members adapted to engage the slotted portions of said barrel to lock said tube Within said barrel thereby preventing accidental release thereof.

11. 'In a fountain pen of the class described, the combination" of a pair of slidable barrels for filling the fountain pen, and means for locking said barrels to prevent accidental discharge of ink Within said pen,

`said means comprising a plurality of radially extending projections on one of said barrels,

and the inner end of the other barrel having a corresponding number of grooves adapted to receive and retain said projections against displacement.

12. In a fountain pen, the combination of a barrel, an ink sac, slidable means encased within said barrel for deflating said sac and a projection on said slidable means adapted to engage a groove associated with the inner side wall of said barrel whereby said slidable means and rbarrel are releasably locked together.

13. In a fountain pen, the combination of a pair of slidable barrels, one of said barrels telescoped about the other, an auxiliary tube associated with one of said barrels having slots therein, and means on one of said barrels adapted to engage the slots of said tube to lock said barrels in position.

14. In a fountain pen, the combination of a barrel, an ink sac encased within said barrel, a second barrel telescoped over said first barrel, and a projection on said first barrel, said second barrel having a slot on the inner periphery thereof adapted to engage said projection and lock said barrels together.

HENRY KRAUSE. 

